Press Releases

LASG Apprehends 29 Okada Riders For Late Night Operation

Nov 25, 2008 - The Lagos State Government on Monday night intensified its enforcement of the law banning the operation of commercial motorcyclists in Lagos Island, Ikoyi and Victoria Island areas after 8pm with the arrest of about 29 commercial motorcycle operators.

The enforcement exercise which was carried out by men and officers of the Lagos State Environment and Special Offences Enforcement Unit in collaboration with men of the Governor’s Monitoring Team with other law enforcement agencies in state took place between the hours of 8pm and 3am.

Addressing newsmen on the development, the spokesperson of the enforcement unit, Mrs Deola Asagba said altogether about 500 motorcycles (Okadas) have so far been impounded by the collaborative efforts of the enforcement unit ,Governor’s Monitoring Team (GMT) , Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) since the State Government outlawed operation of commercial motorcyclists after 8pm on the Island.

She said the latest raid is warning signal to all those who still engage in breaking the law to know that they will have the full force of the law to contend with as the enforcement unit may decide to enforce the law in any part of the state at any point in time.

He said those arrested would be charged to court very soon and would face the penalties as pronounced by the courts that would try them.

She disclosed that before the commencement of enforcement, public awareness campaigns have been carried out to sensitize members of the public to the fact that they can only operate for specified periods of the day and that for security reasons the operation would be controlled.

One of the arrested commercial motorcycle riders named Sule Karri told newsmen that he was arrested in Ikoyi claiming he was not aware that it was already past 8pm as he had no wrist watch on him.